The Prophetic Sleep Routine

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Sleep, often overlooked in our fast-paced lives, holds immense spiritual significance in Islam. The Prophet  ﷺ  exemplified a balanced and purposeful sleep routine, teaching us valuable lessons.
Let’s explore the Prophetic sleep habits and how we can apply them to our lives.

Night Adhkar

The Prophet  ﷺ  never retired to bed without praising Allah. The night adhkar is a very overlooked sunnah, which should be a regular part of our lives given its benefits.
For example, the night adkhar protects you from the punishment of the grave, the deeds of evil jinn, nightmares and sleep disruptions, and more.

Sleep with Wudu

The Prophet  ﷺ  said: “Whoever retired for the night in a state of purity, an angel will reside with him in his bed. He will not awaken for an hour in the night but that the angel says: Oh Allah, forgive this servant of yours, for he retired in a state of purity.”🤲
[Source: al-Da’wat al-Kabir 358, Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani]

Cleanse Your Heart

During the life of the Prophet  ﷺ,  there was a man who the Prophet  ﷺ  said was a “man from paradise.” The other sahaba were confused about this, so one of them decided to investigate why this man was so special.
The companion spent a day with the man and observed him closely. He still couldn’t understand why he was a man from paradise, as he didn’t do anything extraordinary. So he finally gave in and asked him about what makes him unique, and the man replied, “Before going to sleep every night I forgive everyone and sleep with a clean heart.”

Sleeping After Isha and Waking Up for Tahajjud

The Prophet  ﷺ  advised us on going to sleep early and waking up early. Oftentimes, he would sleep after performing ‘Isha’ and then wake up for Tahajjud in the last third of the night.
During Tahajjud, he would pray cycles of 2 units of prayer and end it with witr. We can pray anywhere between 2 to 12 raka’t of Tahajjud, making sure to include 1 to 3 raka’t for witr.

Stay Up for Fajr While Doing Istighfar

The Prophet  ﷺ  never missed a morning where he did not engage in istighfar. It is reported in various ahadith that he would seek forgiveness one-hundred times in one sitting.
Ibn Qayyim RH specified that the most benefit of this habit comes during the time between Tahajjud and Fajr. He said: “Four things bring provision (i.e. rizq): Tahajjud, abundant istighfar before Fajr, consistent charity, and dhikr in the morning and evening.”

Take Naps During the Day

It was a regular habit of the Prophet  ﷺ  to take midday naps to revitalize his energy and clear his mind.
Khawwat ibn Jubayr رضي الله عنه said, “Sleep at the beginning of the day is stupidity, in the middle of it is (an act of) character, and at the end of it is imbecility.” [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, 1242]
Remember, sleep is not a mere biological function; it’s a spiritual act. Embrace the Prophetic sleep routine, and may your nights be filled with peace and closeness to Allah.

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